Fukushima: That Which You Cannot Sea

I’m still shaking my head over this photo released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.

Taken last Thursday, it shows the Japanese towing a U.S. military barge carrying water to cool the Fukushima plant. As specific as that is, however, it’s impossible not to consider the larger implications of the photo.  One thing that’s unique about the picture is the implicit need for protection beyond the plant.  Of course, there have been plenty of stories about this, but this is the first picture I’ve seen that gets at it.  But then, with news this week of the sizable release of radioactive water into the sea, it seems the threat to these soldiers is everywhere.